Aerial clearance system for hidden harmful land devices

ABSTRACT

This apparatus is for the destruction of land mines, improvised explosive devices and mechanical booby traps by creating strong forces on the ground. The apparatus comprises a physical structure having an electric motor-vanes housing assembly, that is connected to an electrical system. The electrical system comprises a portable control panel and a portable power supply. Undiscovered land mines pose problems for many countries of the world.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

I am told that at the rate that the government and nongovernmental organizations are clearing landmines it will take 450-500 years to rid the world of them—and that's just if no more are placed. However, when a serious conflict breaks out the U.S. Military is in need of a way to clear mines and IEDs, fast, economically and accurately. The invention could also speed up the humanitarian de-mining effort worldwide.

The countries of Canada and Mexico, for example, do not have the problem of landmines at all. Therefore, strategy is very important in facing this worldwide problem. It is a problem in many areas of the world where fighting has taken place. These areas should be located and recorded. Undiscovered mines pose problems for countries that need to reclaim as much land as possible for agricultural purposes.

There are many devices, methods, and equipment for the detection or clearance of IEDs and landmines. The following are a few examples of present detection methods. A remarkable skill found in giant African rats; some are being trained to detect landmines. Animal “sniffers” including dogs are expensive to train, subject to fatigue and can be fooled by masked scents. Metal detectors cannot reliably find plastic mines. Thermal neutron activation detectors are accurate but are too large for field use, slow and expensive. The same is true when various detectors are mounted on a low flying and slow moving airship.

Also, infrared detectors can detect recently placed mines, but they are too large for field use, slow and expensive. The Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory's patented micro power impulse radar and advanced imaging technologies combination is for a landmine detection system; testing is ongoing.

Our Government had a rude awakening from our enemies in Iraq and Afghanistan through their use of improvised explosive devices (IEDS). This began a multi-billion dollar investment by the U.S. Military in vehicle and body armor, robots, ground-penetrating radar and other equipment to better protect our troops. The vehicle armor protects against the worst physical body damage. However, these modern wars have taught Military medicine its hardest lessons: a blast wave can still damage the brain causing dizziness, headaches and minor concentration problems. “It's not a physical wound,” a soldier recalls. “It's more like something doesn't feel right.” Inside the vehicle he was the closest to the blast.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This aerial clearance system can, nearly one hundred percent of the time, cause harmful land devices to self-destruct and the other very, very small percentage of the time will visibly reveal any harmful device. The system is designed so that very little damage is done to it when a blast does go off, and the cost of repairs are kept relatively low compared to present ones. The operators will not suffer any physical or mental damage. FIG. 1 to FIG. 7 shows the fan-housing-drag chains arrangement. FIG. 11 and FIG. 12 show the housing-drag balls arrangement. The ultimate version is the fan-housing-drag balls. This is a combination of the above two arrangements; see FIG. 13.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front view of a physical structure of an aerial clearance system mounted to a helicopter.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged top view of the physical structure.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged front view of the physical structure with only the vanes housing shown section.

FIG. 4. is a block diagram of an electrical system of the aerial clearance system.

FIG. 5 is a front view of a physical structure of an aerial clearance system mounted to a helicopter.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged top view of the physical structure.

FIG. 7 is an enlarged front view of the physical structure with only the vanes housing shown section.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram of an electrical system of the aerial clearance system.

FIG. 9 is a schematic of a top view of an array of electric motor-vanes housing assemblies of an aerial clearance system.

FIG. 10 is a side view of a physical structure of an aerial clearance system mounted to a helicopter.

FIG. 11 is a top view of an alternative physical structure of an aerial clearance system showing only an upper housing and its supporting lines.

FIG. 12 is a front view of the physical structure of the aerial clearance system showing many other parts.

FIG. 13 is a front view of an alternative physical structure of an aerial clearance system showing many parts.

FIG. 14 is a geometric ellipse.

FIG. 15 is a geometric octagon.

FIG. 16 is a geometric triangle.

FIG. 17 is a geometric square.

FIG. 18 is a side view of a physical structure of an aerial clearance system mounted to a complimentary land vehicle.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

An aerial clearance system for hidden harmful land devices is comprised of a physical structure and an electrical system.

FIG. 1 is a front view of a version that is mainly for roadways RW, it drags several chains 12 along a roadway RW and sends a strong forced airflow AF onto the roadway RW. This physical structure 10 can be carried by a medium-sized helicopter MH. The physical structure 10 has three electric motor 30—vanes housing 37 assemblies. They are supported by a center upper line 20 and its branches 20A, 20B, and 20C, and stabilized by two upper side lines 22A and 22B.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged top view of the three electric motor 30—vanes housing 37 assembles. The upper holding rings 32—shown enlarged in FIG. 3—and the chains 12 and upper lines 20, 20A, 20B, 20C, 22A, and 22B are omitted in this view for clarity. The motors 30 are held together by connecting bars 36, their ends are welded to the motors 30 or screwed into the motors 30. The motors 30 are mounted on the vanes housings 37 by mounting legs 34 and fastening means 26. The vanes housings 37 are fastened together by fastening means 24. Hooks 39 are placed around the bottom of each housing 37; therein each housing 37 are the vanes 35.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged front view of the three electric motor 30—vanes housing 37 assemblies of the physical structure 10. The vanes housings 37 are the only parts shown section. The upper holding rings 32 and upper lines 20, 20A, 20B, 20C, 22A, and 22B are shown. The motors 30 are held together by connecting bars 36 and mounted on the vanes housing 37 by mounting legs 34 and fastening means 26. The mountings legs 34 should raise the motors 30 higher over the housings 37. The housings 37 are held together by fastening means 24. Hooks 39 for the chains 12 are placed around the bottom of each housing 37; therein each housing 37 is the vanes 35.

There is a shaft 38 between the motor 30 and the vanes 35. This version is mainly for roadways RW. Each of the housings 37 can have a diameter of approximately eight feet. Each chain 12 should be approximately 10 feet long; a good number of chains 12 would be six per housing 37. Review FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of the electrical system 40 for the aerial clearance system. A portable control panel 42 and a portable or fixed power supply 44 are inside the helicopter Mil. Portable is best. The panel 42 and power supply 44 send electric energy to the motors 30.

FIG. 5 is a front view of a version that is mainly for narrow paths NP. It drags several chains 62 along a narrow path NP and sends a strong forced airflow AF onto the path NP. This physical structure 50 can be carried by a small size helicopter SH. This version has one electric motor 70—vanes housing 77 assembly. It is supported by an upper line 60.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged top view of the electric motor 70—vanes housing 77 assembly. An upper holding ring 72, the claims 62 and the upper line 60 are omitted in this view for clarity. The motor 70 is mounted on the vanes housing 77 by mounting legs 74 and fastening mean 66. Hooks 79 are placed around the bottom of the housing 77; therein housing 77 is the vanes 75.

FIG. 7 is an enlarged front view of the electric motor 70—vanes housing 77 assembly. The vanes housing 77 is the only part shown section. The upper holding ring 72 and upper line 60 are shown. The motor 70 is mounted on the vanes housing 77 by mounting legs 74 and fastening mean 66. The mounting legs 74 should raise the motor 70 higher over the housing 77. Hooks 79 for the chains 62 are placed around the bottom of the housing 77; therein housing 77 is the vanes 75.

There is a shaft 78 between the motor 70 and the vanes 75. This version is mainly for narrow paths NP. The housing 77 can have a diameter of approximately five feet. Each chain 62 should be approximately 10 feet long; a good number of chains 62 would be eight for the housing 77.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram of the electrical system 80 for the entire aerial clearance system. A portable control panel 82 and a power supply 84 are inside the helicopter SH. They send power to the electric motor 70. The power supply 84 can be independent (portable) or dependent; portable is best.

FIG. 9 is a schematic the top view of an array of electric motor-vanes housing assemblies 90. This aerial clearance system can have any number of assemble rows R or columns C. This version is mainly for large open fields. One helicopter that can lift this array of motor-housing assemblies 90 is a CH-53E Super Stallion.

FIG. 10 is a side view of a physical structure 100 mounted to a small helicopter H. There is only one electric motor 120—vanes housing 127 assembly it is supported by an upper line 110. This version is mainly for narrow paths P. It drags several chains 112 along a path and sends a strong forced airflow AF onto the path P. To insure that the chains 12 are making good contact with the ground below, a nearby ground observer NGO controlling an unmanned aerial vehicle UAV can be used.

There are three more options. An observer secured in a doorway of a helicopter could watch the ground below by a mounted portable tilted mirror. A portable closed-circuit system with its camera mounted under a helicopter, the ground below can be observed from within the helicopter. An observer on the ground with binoculars and a two-way radio can be used. The aerial vehicles—helicopters—would fly 100 to 300 feet above ground. This would solve any dust problem that may arise.

FIG. 11 is a top view of an upper housing 177—drag balls 164 assembly of a physical structure 150. The drag balls 164 and their cables 162 are omitted in this view for clarity. The supporting lines 160, 160A, 160B, 160C, and 160D and the upper hooks 179A are shown.

FIG. 12. is a front view of the physical structure 150 with all its parts. The upper housing 177—drag balls 164 assembly is supported by lines 160, 160A, 160B, 160C, and 160D. Upper hooks 179A and lower hooks 179B are placed around the housing 177. Each drag ball 164 has a hook 165. A good number of drag balls 164 would be four dragging on the ground G. Each cable 162 has an upper ring 163A and a lower ring 163B. For effectiveness the heavy balls 164 should be kept on the ground the same as the heavy chains 112 above.

Means for a drag object can be any solid object—a solid object is better than a hollow one—it can be a cube, cylinder, ellipsoid, octahedron, pyramid, or a sphere (ball). A fastening means can be a pin, screw, rivet, or a bolt-nut combination. A holding means can be a hook, ring, or clamp. A line—a suspending means—can be a rope, cable, or chain; it can be metal or non-metal.

For a system to be economical the electric motors and the lines can be all metal, they will be the farthest from any blast. The housings and the vanes and their shafts to the motors will be nearer to any blast. Now there is a choice between expensive metal parts that can take much abuse from blasts, or less expensive non-metal parts that normally take less abuse from blasts.

A chain or a drag ball is on the ground and should be made from a metal; steel would be ideal. The shape of a hard chain or a hard ball (sphere) would help them to survive many blasts. They are relatively easier to make and it is relatively harder for them to get hung on ground objects. The explosions should just throw the chains or balls around violently. There is the possibility that cheap and very hard non-metal chains and balls would be the best choice.

FIG. 13 is a front view of a physical structure 200 with all its parts. An electric motor 220—vanes housing 227 assembly. The upper holding ring 222 and upper line 210 are shown. The motor 220 is mounted on the vanes housing 227 by four mounting legs 224 and secured with fastening means. The four mounting legs 224 should raise the motor 220 over the circular housing 227.

There is a shaft 228 between the motor 220 and the vanes 225 inside the housing 227. The housing 227 is attached to the drag balls 214 with hooks 215 by cables 212 with upper rings 213A and lower rings 213B. The vanes 225 send a strong forced airflow AF onto the ground G.

The top view of a vanes housing can have many geometric shapes. FIG. 14 is an ellipse. FIG. 15 is an octagon. FIG. 16 is a triangle. FIG. 17 is a square. However, the circle will be used for this system.

FIG. 18 shows a modified land vehicle LV it can serve as a complement. The portable structural assembly SA comprise metal support structures SS and a steel cable SC attached to a rear O-ring OR and passes through two other O-rings OR. The portable control panel and portable power supply are mounted inside the vehicle LV.

This physical structure 300 can be a roadway version, see FIG. 1, or a narrow path version, see FIG. 5. It is hung at a safe distance in front of the vehicle LV. The drag balls 314 can be unhooked from the lines 312 and placed inside the vehicle LV.

During the conflict a helicopter with an aerial clearance system could survey a roadway first. Next, a modified land vehicle would survey the roadway. This would insure a convoy was 100 percent safe along this roadway. The number of expensive armored land vehicles could be cut in numbers by 90 percent. The helicopters above would be escorted by Army Apache helicopters or Marine Viper helicopters.

An aerial clearance system has the advantage of nearly 100 percent of the time causing explosive devices to self-destruct by the downward airflow and the drag objects, and always revealing a harmful device by the downward strong airflow AF. IF the revealed device is a mine or IED it can be destroyed by shooting it.

The electric motors, vanes housings, chains, drag balls, fastening means and all lines should be made of interchangeable as is possible between the various versions. The vanes housings can be any diameter. There can be any number of chains of any length per housing. Any number of vanes housing—electric motor assemblies can be used per physical structure, from one to a few to a plurity. No new technology is needed for this system.

In the field of land mine detection there are three very important criterions. There are: 100 percent accuracy, good speed, and tolerable expense. I know of no other device, equipment, or method that satisfactorily passes the above criterions.

This system is in the field of land mines, improvised explosive devices (IEDs) and mechanical boogy traps clearance. It is designed to be extremely reliable, swift detection, and economically feasible in clearing a narrow path, a roadway or a large open field of hidden harmful land devices.

For greater protection, at the bottom of the housings screens can be placed. This will help protect the motors and their vanes. The screens can be made permanent or removable; see 37 (FIG. 3), 77 (FIG. 7), 127 (FIGS. 10), and 227 (FIG. 13).

In addition, a helicopter with an aerial clearance system will give the occupant of the helicopter, a good chance to spot a triggerman for a hidden IED below. 

I claim: 1) An aerial clearance system for hidden harmful land devices having a physical structure comprising: a) electric motors are mounted on housings by fastening means; b) therein each said housing is a shaft to said motor; c) holding means are placed around each said housing; d) an electrical system is added to said motors, and e) whereby said physical structure can be supported by upper lines. 2) An aerial clearance system for hidden harmful land devices comprising a physical structure and its electrical system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said fastening means comprising screw-type hardware. 3) An aerial clearance system for hidden harmful land devices comprising a physical structure and its electrical system as claimed in claim 1, wherein each said housing has a geometric shape.
 4. An aerial clearance system for hidden harmful land devices comprises a physical structure and an electrical system, wherein: said physical structure and said electrical system comprises an electric motor with mounting legs mounted on and fastened to a housing said mounting legs high over said housing; a shaft is between said electric motor and its vanes inside said housing; hooks for drag objects are placed around the bottom of said housing, said physical structure and said electric motor are connected to an upper line for a helicopter; said electrical system comprises said electric motor connected to a portable control panel and a portable power supply within said helicopter.
 5. The aerial clearance system for hidden harmful land devices comprises a physical structure and an electrical system as claimed in claim 4, said housing farther having a geometric shape of a circle.
 6. The aerial clearance system for hidden harmful land devices comprises a physical structure and an electrical system as claimed in claim 4, said housing farther having a geometric shape of a triangle.
 7. An aerial clearance system for hidden harmful land devices comprises a physical structure wherein: said physical structure having a geometric shaped housing that is a square, upper hooks are placed around upper part of said square housing; said upper hooks are attached to supporting lines said supporting lines are attached to a center supporting line; lower hooks for the connecting of drag chains are placed around lower part of said square housing, and whereby a modified land vehicle with a portable structural assembly, said center supporting line of said physical structure is hung to said portable structure assembly at a safe distance in front of said land vehicle.
 8. An aerial clearance system for hidden harmful land devices, comprising: a physical structure having an electric motor with mounting legs-vanes housing assembly; said electric motor is mounted higher over said vanes housing by said mounting legs and fastening means; said fastening means being bolt-nut combinations that fasten said mounting legs to said vanes housing; therein, there is a shaft between said electric motor and its vanes within said vanes housing; holding means are hooks, said hooks for chains are mounted around the bottom of said vanes housing and fasten with bolt-nut combinations; an electrical system for said aerial clearance system comprising a portable control panel and a portable power supply are connected to said electric motor within said physical structure, and said electric motor has an upper holding ring connected to and supported by an upper cable. 